Urban network

Abstract

The concept of urban network implies a certain degree of interdependency among cities that are connected by various linkages at different spatial scales. Geographers but also many other scientists have theorized the urban network, leading to a wide diversity of definitions and empirical studies. We review existing approaches through three successive steps: schools of thought across scientific disciplines; operational urban networks in relation to spatial planning; and empirical analyses of intercity transport and other systems. The scarcity of studies offering a multilayered approach to urban networks and/or integrating local socio-economic determinants motivates further research in this field.